In my recent writing, we looked at what strongholds actually are. Simply put, they are patterns of thinking that go against God’s Way. These habits come from following our own selfish desires or from the influence of a demonic entity (2 Corinthians 10:4-5, Romans 6:13, 16).
If an evil spirit is behind the problem, that spirit must first be cast out in the name of Jesus (Matthew 8:16).
To tear down the strongholds built up by the demon or by our own old habits, we must learn to capture every thought and make it obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Capturing a thought means standing against a lie by using the truth of God’s Word (2 Corinthians 10:5).
The only way to stop a lie is with the truth. So, when a thought enters your mind that does not match what God says, you must speak out the truth of Gods word to counter it (John 8:32).
Speaking God’s Word against a lie is how we “pull down strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4). We must keep speaking the truth until those deceptive thoughts disappear. When we confess what God says, our imagination, our mind, and our actions all begin to follow our words (Romans 10:10).
Think of it like this: if you are counting from one to twenty in your head, but then you suddenly start speaking different words out loud, the counting in your mind stops. Your mind is forced to follow what you are saying. In the same way, your life will follow the direction of your confession.
Being a “doer of the Word” means we agree with God through our speech and then let our behaviour follow those words (James 1:22).
Finally, we must remember that overcoming these strongholds requires more than just words. It involves a deep understanding of the scripture, setting ourselves apart for God, fasting, and praying—both in the Spirit and with our understanding. We stay free by submitting to the Holy Spirit and living rightly before Him (Galatians 5:16, Ephesians 1:18, Leviticus 5:5, 1 Corinthians 14:2, Matthew 17:21).